M. Elizabeth Ross, MD, PhD
Dr. M. Elizabeth Ross is the Nathan Cummings Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Development. She Directs the Center for Neurogenetics (CNG) and Chairs the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Ross received her M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, Ph.D. from Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, her residency training in Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and fellowships in molecular genetics at Harvard and Rockefeller University. She directs the CNG in the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, which supports research into the genetic causes of neurological disorders in children and adults. The Center has both basic science and clinical arms, evaluating patients with neurological disorders of attributable to a single gene mutation or requiring multi-gene interactions and operates the biobank for the neurological community at Weill Cornell. Neuroscientist faculty in the Center investigate the mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of these conditions. Her own research group, the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Development, focuses on discovery of gene mutations associated with brain malformations and investigation of how these genes direct the construction of brain. Three major projects encompass: 1) genetic interactions that lead to spina bifida, 2) cell cycle regulation and its role in growth and cellular patterning of brain, and 3) regulation of neuronal movement, synapse formation and turnover that are critical to the function of developing and aging brain. These three areas of study are approached from both a basic science perspective, using biochemical, cell biological and mouse genetic tools, and clinical genetics, pursuing how an altered gene-or several genes together-causes impaired brain function. This is the essential first step to finding improved therapies tailored to the individual patient.